Lynsie Chu, OD · October 14, 2026
Yes. Every contact lens sold in the U.S. needs a prescription from an eye doctor, including colored, cat-eye and costume lenses that don't correct your vision. The FDA regulates them as medical devices, not cosmetics. Stores and websites that sell them without a prescription are breaking the law.
Why a costume lens needs a fitting
Contact lenses are not one size fits all. Every eye has its own shape, and a lens that fits poorly can scratch the clear front window of your eye (the cornea). A scratch lets germs in.
The FDA warns that bacterial infections from contact lenses can cause blindness, sometimes within as little as 24 hours if they aren't diagnosed and treated promptly. When the CDC reviewed six serious corneal infections in contact lens wearers, three of the patients had bought their lenses without a valid prescription.
Where not to buy them
The FDA says never to buy contact lenses from:
- Street vendors and flea markets
- Beauty supply stores and salons
- Novelty, costume and Halloween shops
- Websites that don't ask for your prescription
Under federal rules, a seller has to verify your contact lens prescription before selling you any lenses, including cosmetic ones. If a site never asks, that's a red flag.
The safe way to get the look
A contact lens fitting checks the size and curve of your eyes, makes sure the lens moves and breathes properly, and teaches you how to put lenses in and take them out. After your fitting you get a copy of your prescription, and you can buy colored lenses from any seller that verifies it.
Once you have them:
- Wash and dry your hands before touching your lenses
- Never share lenses with a friend, even for one night
- Don't sleep in them. The CDC says sleeping in contact lenses raises the risk of an eye infection six to eight times
- Keep water away from lenses, and use fresh solution every time
- Throw them out on the schedule your eye doctor gives you
How Fenix Lumi can help
Both of our offices fit colored and decorative contact lenses, and both see red or painful eyes as medical visits. Our Chino office is inside Sam's Club, and you don't need a Sam's Club membership for your exam. Walk-ins are welcome when the schedule allows. Read more about contact lens exams and fittings.
Want colored contacts for Halloween?
Book a contact lens fitting at our Chino or Moreno Valley office.
Sources
- Colored and Decorative Contact Lenses: A Prescription is a Must — U.S. Food and Drug Administration, October 2022
- Decorative Contact Lenses — U.S. Food and Drug Administration, accessed October 2026
- Corneal Infections Associated with Sleeping in Contact Lenses — Six Cases, United States, 2016–2018 — Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, MMWR, August 2018
- Buying Prescription Glasses or Contact Lenses: Your Rights — Federal Trade Commission, June 2024
This post is general health information, not a diagnosis or medical advice for your eyes. For sudden vision loss, an eye injury or a chemical splash, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.